When God Takes You the Long Way

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. Exodus 13:17-18

I love these verses. 

I don’t really like to drive. Never have. Probably never will. I don’t like driving too fast, too close to other cars, or in the dark or the rain. Sometimes I choose to take a longer, safer route because I don’t like the interstate at 5:00. This annoys Casey a bit because it takes me 25 minutes to get somewhere instead of 12. But I do it because the cars are crazy coming on and off the interstate and it scares me a little. I’d rather take the longer route and not have a mini heart attack.

Essentially, God sensed the danger on behalf of the Israelites. When he led them out of Egypt, into their freedom, he didn’t take them the short route. See, the shortest and most common route from Egypt to Canaan was the coastal route. It would make the most sense to go that way, especially with two million people in tow. But God wouldn’t let them take the shortcut. Why?

Because that’s where Egypt’s military outposts were located. And if the people of Israel had gone that way, they would have found themselves in a battle. A battle they weren’t ready for. God knew that if the Israelites were faced with that battle, they’d turn their tails around and go right back to Egypt, right back into slavery. So he took them the long route.

Here’s the thing: the Bible doesn’t tell us whether or not God informed Israel why He was taking them the long way. I’d like to think He didn’t tell them, because that totally seems like a thing He’d do. Why do I say that? Because I’ve been there. There have been times where I’ve wondered why God is taking His sweet time to do something in my life. And He’s shown me, several times, that it’s because I wasn’t ready for what He had for me.

God wants what’s best for me. He doesn’t want to give me a gift that I can’t handle, He doesn’t want me to be in a place I’m not prepared for. So sometimes He takes me on the long route so I can become what he needs me to be. So I can be ready for what He has for me. 

But all I can see in the moment is that I’m taking the long way. And I complain. And I get annoyed. Because this is all taking far too long. 

But God knows. He knows what He’s doing and He knows it’s what’s best for me, no matter how much I complain.

I’m so grateful for His protection when I didn’t even know I needed it. 

We know that the Israelites certainly wouldn’t have been able to handle it, because it’s only a few verses later that we see their lack of faith in God.

God let Moses in on His plan to ambush the Egyptians… but the two of them left everyone else in the dark. The plan was on a need-to-know basis and they didn’t need to know. 

So God’s plan is going according to… well, God’s plan. And the Egyptians come chasing after the Israelites in 600 fancy chariots–the most high-tech military technology at the time. And, understandably, the Israelites start freaking out because the bad guys were catching up to them!

You’d think they’d be like, “If it was God’s plan to get us out of Egypt, He’ll get us through this too.” But the Israelites aren’t exactly known for their great faith.

And you’d think they’d have high faith, because literally verses before God gave them a pillar of cloud to guide them in the day (and be their shade from the sun) and a pillar of fire to guide them at night (and give them light). They had this super obvious proof that God was with them. “And the Lord did not remove the pillar of cloud or pillar of fire from its place in front of the people.” (Exodus 13:22) But despite the fact that God’s pillar was literally RIGHT there, they doubted him. 

So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the LORD. Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians?’ For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”

Y’all. The Israelites were so afraid that they wished they were back in Egypt, being slaves. SLAVES. And the Egyptian slave drivers had not treated them nicely at all. It was real bad. But suddenly, their current situation seemed worse than slavery. Because they didn’t trust God’s promise. Sure, they couldn’t see that He was setting up a trap for the Egyptians. All they could see was the Egyptians quickly approaching, and no way out.  They hadn’t been free for a week and they already had a distorted approach of the bondage they’d come out of. They glamorized slavery because it seemed better than being chased by the enemy. Slavery was familiar. They knew what to expect every day. They knew it was gonna suck every day. 

But freedom was unknown. And it seemed scary. Taking chances are. Even when we know God is with us. We’re merely human, after all. 

And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14

Moses tries to encourage the people, and man, those are encouraging words. I love that he still doesn’t let them in on God’s plan. Again, they didn’t need to know. In fact, Moses knew that God was setting an ambush, but God didn’t reveal to him how He was gonna get them out of there.

They needed to trust God and believe He’d protect them like He said He would.

And he did. 

Because right after that, He opened a door to freedom in a miraculous way. He parted a sea for them to walk through. 

God wants to provide your escape from the chains of sin. He’ll provide a miraculous way out too. But it may not feel like it. He has plans that are need-to-know and you don’t need to know. It may feel like you’re in a worse place than before as you try to flee the grip of Satan. Jesus provided a miraculous way out of sin. He went to the cross for you. The miracle is right in front of you, and to be free of sin, you’ve just got to ask. God wants to reveal His glory through you, just like he did with the Israelites.

“My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!” Exodus 14: 17-18

I'm a Little Tea Cup

My favorite restaurant is The English Tea Room. It feels fancy, but comfortable. Every reservation is for two hours, and it’s delightful to sit and enjoy the experience without feeling rushed. They have over 260 varieties of teas (varieTEAS?) and, though I’ve been many times, I’ve only sampled a portion of their menu.

At your table you will find a tea cup and teaspoon at each seat and a bowl of white and brown sugar cubes in the center of the table with a tiny, delicate pair of tongs. Your server will ask which tea you want and offer suggestions (which is a relief, because 260 teas is a lot to choose from). Once you’ve decided, they will make your tea and bring it to you piping hot in a small teapot that holds about three tea cups-worth of your selection of tea, along with your choice of milk or cream (I always choose cream).

Every time, it’s a beautiful moment when you pour your tea from your own little teapot into your dainty tea cup, add a sugar cube (or two… or three… I won’t judge) and a spot of cream, then take your first sip. Ah. This is what tea is supposed to be like.

Now I’ll be the first to admit, I can be a bit clumsy. But, oh, when I’m holding that tea cup I try to use gentle, yet strong hands so I won’t spill. I’m holding precious contents, after all. I do love my tea, and I sure don’t want to break the beautiful tea cup. I want to make sure it’s well taken care of and safe.

I, too, am a tea cup. I’m beautifully made. I’m fragile and can be broken. I need to be washed clean, especially on the inside when I get nasty. (nasTEA? Okay, I'll stop now.)

Thankfully, I’m in very capable hands. The Lord’s hands are far more sturdy and stable and dependable than my own. He loves me and He cares for me and He holds me in gentle, loving hands. It is for this reason I can trust Him. Should I fall (away from him) and be broken (by sin), my Maker picks me back up and glues me back together. Sure, you can still see the spots where I was broken, but that is just proof of my testimony. I once was in pieces, but my Savior came to my rescue and restored me.

And now I rest, in His sure hands, a dainty little teacup, with quite a few cracks He’s repaired, overflowing with His joy and Spirit.

31

 

Somehow I'm 31 now, which means I'm actually "in my thirties." That's such a weird feeling. People often tell me that I don't look like I'm 30, and I am happy to take that as a compliment. 

The other day I looked in the mirror and noticed forehead wrinkles. I now understand why people get botox. It just needs to be puffed up a little and that wrinkle would be gone! The wrinkles have weirded me out much more than the gray hairs, but I've been finding the occasional gray hair since high school, so maybe that's why. I really hope when I go gray that I get a streak of gray first instead of random white everywhere.

Ultimately, I'm grateful for the opportunity to grow old. There was a time in my life where I couldn't imagine being 35. When I looked at my future, it was so bleak that I didn't even want to be 35. I hoped I could die a tragic, quick (but painless) young death because that seemed better than continuing life as it was and living to be old. 

Thankfully, God stepped in. He did some very unexpected things in my life and got me turned around. I'm not saying life is perfect, but man am I blessed. He got me out of a bad situation and now I can rejoice because I'm not where I once was. 

I'm learning to celebrate more, because, even if I'm blessed enough to grow old, life is still short. So I called my favorite bakery and ordered my favorite cake (strawberry with cream cheese icing) and text some friends and family to come over to my Gramma's to celebrate with me. 

I only had 12 candles on my cake (even though I wanted 31) because I couldn't make myself buy three packages of candles just so I would have enough. Although in hindsight, maybe it would have been worth the $10. (Probably not--it took two tries just to blow out 12.)

Mugs and Musings: Thanksgiving in Summer (And all year round)

You know gratefulness journals? Those things have become popular. I saw one at Target yesterday. How many times have you read or heard somewhere that you need to "think of three things you're thankful for every day" or "Write down 5 things you're grateful for each day." Well, I've tried this on and off over the last few years. Make a list of three things, of five things... literally counting my blessings. For some reason it can be difficult to think of five things every day, despite the fact I have so many things to be thankful for!

Recently, I decided to approach the gratefulness thing a little differently. I love my morning porch time with Jesus and I bring my journal outside with me. I start off by writing my weekly praise verse. (This week it is Psalm 145:1 - "I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.") Next, I move on to a section I call "Thanksgiving." I like to use the biblical word.

Here's how I do it: I just... ramble. I don't number my thanksgiving. I don't give myself a certain amount that I have to write. I don't think about it too hard. I just... write. And it is so much easier!

When I numbered my blessings, I felt like each number had to be important or special or big. Now that I just ramble, I can think of so many wonderful things I'm grateful for--especially the little things. I think it's so important to find the beauty and thanksgiving in the little things. I can't tell you how many days my thanksgiving looks like this: "The birds singing and the squirrels chirping; the cup of hot tea I'm drinking; my porch; the yummy pie I made yesterday..."

See? Little things! Simple things! Maybe they aren't "worthy of a number" but they are things I'm truly grateful for. Things I might not have thought of previously because they didn't seem "important enough." But... they are. Anything I am grateful for... that's important.

Meditation Monday: Do I really want to understand?

 I found this as a note in my phone written November 27, 2017. I'd completely forgotten about it, but really liked the message of it, so I decided to share it here. I'm pretty sure I didn't share it before, but even if I did, I think it's worth sharing twice.

Oh, how green you are, jealousy. This is something I’ve been dealing with lately. It’s something i dealt with in high school and pretty much overcame. But oh, it came back. Social media is the culprit. “Look, she started a blog.” “Look, she got engaged.” “Look, she’s traveling to this amazing place.”

Comparison is the thief of joy. I know this. The Bible says the devil comes to steal, but *I* am the one who compares myself to others. I can be the one who steals my own joy!

And I thought, “Well, I have an awesome life too.” And I do. I’m dating the actual greatest guy on the planet. I have the best friends a girl could want. The cutest puppy ever. I go to a fantastic church with an amazing pastor. My job is way cool and my coworkers are cooler.

Instead of thinking, “I shouldn’t be jealous,” my thoughts went to, “how do I show this off?”

Blogging.

I’ve always blogged, albeit very sporadically at times.

“God, give me something good to share. Give me understanding,” I prayed a silent prayer.

Then it hit me.

Do I want to understand Him and His Word only so I have something shareable? Or do I truly want to fall in love with Him and understand Him more?

Yikes. Looks like my priorities got out of line. Again.

And that’s life. Life is working hard daily to keep your priorities straight. Life is wondering how you fix them. Life is God repeatedly and repeatedly saying, “Me. You focus on me. The rest will fall into place.” And the rest will. But oh, it’s hard. I can’t deny that. It’s hard to keep your priorities right when millions of things are happening. When you have a cute boyfriend you’d rather talk to on the phone than pray. When you’d rather scroll Instagram than read your Bible.

Thank you lord for Your grace and mercy New every day. Because I need it. I can’t live without it. I fail daily. I’m merely human. But You are not. And You provided a way many years ago so my frail, failing self could find rescue and peace and love and freedom.

Mugs and Musings: I'm Wonderfully Made

I've decided to call my random thoughts/rambles Mugs and Musings, so here's the first one! I'll share a pic of one of my (many) mugs... and some musings to go along with it.

When I was 12, I went to church one Wednesday night wearing my favorite outfit. A light pink tank top with frills, a deeper pink three-quarter length cardigan, a fit and flair denim skirt, and probably my clear pink heels. I felt so cute, which wasn't my norm. I'd always been the ugly duckling amongst my friends and very rarely felt pretty. But tonight I looked cute. Or at least that's how I felt until I ran into my "friends." They didn't tell me my outfit was cute. They told me my arms were hairy and I needed to consider shaving them. I was so ashamed and embarrassed. I was too afraid to shave my arms, so I started wearing long sleeves. Every single day. For three years.

I've always loved clothes ever since I can remember--putting together cute outfits, finding unique pieces. Even when I was like 8, I LOVED when Gramma would take me shopping. When I was 12, I would stand in front of my mirror putting together outfits until I came across one I loved.

But now I had to cover my hairy arms every day, so I rotated the same five jackets every single week. I quickly grew bored of wearing the same thing all the time and was a little ashamed that I wore the same five things every week. So I started wearing the same "Students of Christ" hoodie every day. For some reason that seemed less embarrassing. I tried to tell myself it was because "I don't care what others think, so I won't try to dress cute to impress them. And I want to be warm." I was totally lying to myself. I wanted to dress cute but I was afraid of what people would think if I wore clothes that were different than what other kids at school wore. I was afraid they would think I was trying too hard to fit in or be liked or be unique. I was afraid they would laugh at my hairy arms.

What changed? Obviously I love to wear fun clothes, especially when they are different from the norm. I love dressing uniquely. Where did that confidence come from?

It started when I decided I wanted to get closer to God. It was a few months before the end of my sophomore year of high school. I didn't really know how to get closer to God, but I decided I wanted to start with my clothes--I decided to try to dress in a way that I believed honored God. Maybe that sounds so silly. But clothes were something I loved, and I think God was truly honored that I wanted to give him something I enjoyed so much.

It was also around this time that my "friends" decided to stop talking to me. But God had already planned for that, because at the same time, I became close to the girls who are still my best friends to this day. They encouraged me without even knowing it. I was inspired by their style that was so beautiful and unique and honored God.

I didn't gain confidence over night. When school started back up, I was a little scared. The year before I had worn the same school hoodie, jeans, and converse every day. Now I was showing up to schools in ensembles that the small town had never seen before. Crazy colors and pattern mixing, fun hair accessories, quirky shirts and shoes. Every morning, I prayed that God would give me confidence and help me not be afraid of what other's thought of me. And, slowly, day by day, my confidence grew a little more.

As it turned out, people thought my outfits were fun and cute. When I graduated, I was voted "Best dressed" by almost every person in my grade. I remember the day we were all filling out the "superlatives" paperwork and the entire classroom started talking about how I was the best dressed in the grade and they were voting for me.

You know what the crazy thing was? None of them remembered that I used to wear the same hoodie every day. In fact, it was only a few weeks after I'd stopped wearing the hoodie that one of my classmates said, "JoyBeth, you dress so cute every day." I remember being stunned. How did she not remember that I'd literally worn the exact same hoodie almost every day of sophomore year?

I remember the day and the outfit that made me realize that I was made for this--this dressing weird, this being unique. I wore a black lace top from my Gramma (who is, to this day, more stylish than me), a white denim jacket, denim skirt, maroon and black striped tights, and black riding boots. It was weird and different and I loved it. I wanted to dress like this every day.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I think it's so cool that God made every single person unique. That He gave us different talents and passions and skills that we can use to honor Him. One thing that makes me unique is my style, and I choose to celebrate it because God is the one who gave me the passion and creativity to put together fun outfits. It's a big part of who I am because that's how God made me. He made me a little bit weird in that way and I've come to love that about myself.

It's so easy to feel ashamed and embarrassed by the things that make us different and separate us from everyone else. But that was not God's intention when He made you. The Bible says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." He wants us to praise Him and thank Him for making us exactly the way we are. Because it wasn't on accident. He made you the way you are for a purpose and a reason. You have the opportunity to honor Him and give yourself to Him in a way that is unique to only you.

I encourage you, look at the parts of yourself that are different. That set you apart from everyone else. Maybe even the parts that you try to hide because you feel like you are weird. How can you give those things to God? How can you honor Him with those parts of you? You can start by thanking Him for making you perfectly, uniquely you.

Taking the Scenic Route

No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Whenever you’re going from one place to another, do you grab your phone and search for directions for the fastest way? See if there’s a shortcut? I do now, but I haven’t always done that. There was a time in my life when I searched for directions that kept me off the interstate--even if it took a longer time. The interstate scared me. All those lanes of traffic, so many cars and 18-wheelers. Instead of driving in fear and anxiousness, I preferred to take the longer route so I could drive in peace. Knowing I wouldn’t have to face my fear made it easier to get in my car, put it in drive, and go to my destination.

When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, “If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.” So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. (Exodus 13: 17-18)

In the verses above, we see that God used this same tactic with the Israelites when he freed them from slavery in Egypt. God didn’t let them take the shortcut out of slavery. He made them go the long route.

When we were dating, Casey sent me this text and it was so special that I still have a screenshot of it. “We live in a time where we want to take the ‘fastest route’ but God likes to take the scenic route. Sometimes it feels like the long way and life gets pretty bumpy going God’s way, but we would miss out on so many beautiful things in the end if we go our own way.”

Why did God make the Israelites take the scenic route? Because He knew that if they went through the land of the Philistines, they would encounter war. And if they encountered war, they would be so disappointed that they would be driven back to Egypt and back to slavery before ever getting a taste of freedom. He didn’t let them take the shortcut out of slavery because it wouldn’t work. Only the long route would keep them out of bondage.

An old friend of mine suffered from pornography since he was a young teenager. Many times, he tried to give it up. But he wasn’t strong enough on his own to quit. He went back to it every time. He begged God to take the desire away from him. God didn’t do it. And so, eventually, he gave up trying. He instead made excuses for his behavior. If God didn’t want to take away his desire for porn, then maybe God didn’t care enough.

It absolutely broke my heart as I watched over time as he gave up completely on God. He was angry at God because God didn’t take away his desire to consume pornography. But, just like the Israelites, sometimes God won’t let us take the shortcut out of our own slavery. Instead of taking away our sinful desires, God wants us to instead learn to depend on His strength to deliver us from temptation. 

But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

God didn’t promise to take away temptation--instead He promised a way out. He may not take away your sinful desires, but He will help you overcome them if you allow Him to. Every single time you turn to God instead of giving in to that fleshly desire, you take a step in the right direction. Even if you mess up occasionally and find yourself going backwards, every time you give it to God, you are in the process of creating a new habit. Many steps make a mile, and one day, you will look behind you to see how many miles are between you now and where you came from. 

If you are a slave to sin (and we all are in different ways), don’t be disappointed in God when He leads you on the scenic route instead of the shortcut. He wants you to make a lasting change that will lead you out of slavery. Many times, the shortcut won’t work. It will lead you to disappointment, and you will run right back to your chains. Though God’s way oftentimes feels “inconvenient,” the scenic route is much more beautiful and satisfying than going your own way. Because of the scenic route, you’ll find eternal freedom.

SALT 2021

SALT (Student Action Leadership Team) is my heartbeat. I've told many people and I'll say it again, I'll be on SALT until God sends me elsewhere. Perhaps He'll provide something new for me next year, in 20 years, or maybe He will allow me to be at the Louisiana campgrounds for Kids Kamp every year for the rest of my life. No matter, I will always and forever have a special place for SALT in my heart.

ALL THE THINGS went wrong:

• planning was an actual pain in the booty (and I genuinely felt like quitting a few times)
• we found out a few weeks before camp that ALL the dorms had damage
• everyone had to take cold showers the first day
• I got sick during training
• half the SALT team, kitchen team, and office staff got food poisoning (we went through TWO bottles of Pepto Bismol in a DAY)
• both of the evangelists wound up hurt (one literally got stitches five minutes before he went up to preach)

BUT GOD!

• Over 250 children received the gift of the Holy Ghost evidenced by speaking in tongues for the first time. The total number including refills was over 550!
• Multiple miracles! At least 12 are recorded, including several people being healed immediately of pain they'd had for years AND a little boy in a wheelchair getting up and walking for the first time in his life! 
• So many beautiful testimonies from SALT about how God used SALT to show them He had a plan and purpose for them and wants to use them.
• A beautiful spirit of unity.
• Many learned how to listen to the voice of God and He spoke to them.

Nothing is too big for God. Yeah, we dealt with all the awful things, but God was working miracles throughout it all. He outshone the darkness. 

What a blessing it is to be a part of this team still. I've been part of this team for 11 years! I'm so grateful that God has allowed me to come back time and time again. SALT changed my life when I was a teenager, and I am here as part of the administration team because I want to give back and pass it forward. I want SALT to be the best it can be so more teenagers and young adults and children can come to camp and watch God change their life forever. Truly, all the glory is His.

Light in the Darkness

“Even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139:12‬ ‭

Darkness can be scary. Unable to see where you’re going, worrying that you’ll bump into something or run into a wall. I’m not just talking about physical darkness, but also the situations we go through. Worrying about what is happening in the world around us, wondering what lies in our future.

Have you ever wished that God would hand you a pair of “night vision” goggles? Wouldn’t it be nice to assess what’s ahead and walk forward confidently, all-knowing? But, inevitably, if we could see what’s to come, we would make bad decisions. We would try to pick the shorter or easier route, the one with the least amount of obstacles, the route that God did not choose for us.

We can’t see in the dark, but God has night vision. Darkness does not exist for Him. (“Even the darkness is not dark to you.”) He sees everything; He knows all. He knows your future. He knows every single thing to come, both the good and the bad. He has already accounted for things you don’t even know about yet; those things will not surprise him.

Do you feel like you’re stumbling through the dark? Reach out to God. When you’re afraid to take a step because you can’t see the way, He will take your hand and be your guide. Though the darkness may blind you, “darkness is as light with him.” You can be confident in your Guide and walk in HIS light!

I started learning to embroider last year and this is a piece I recently made inspired by scriptures I'm memorizing.

How to Fight For Your Friends

*I'm currently doing a study of David and want to share with you what I learn along the way! Today we're in 1 Samuel 20. See the first post here!*

The reason I first fell in love with the story of David was because of his friendship with Jonathan. I think there is something so beautiful about true friendship. Surely, the friendship between Jonathan and David is true.

Let’s backtrack. Who is Jonathan? Jonathan is the prince. The son of King Saul. Yeah, that king. The one who wants to kill David.

So David’s bestie’s dad wants to kill him. And since David is married to King Saul’s daughter, that means that King Saul is also his father-in-law. Can you say family drama???

Jonathan and David became friends right after David killed Goliath. You know how there are some people you immediately click with? That’s how it was with these two. They were instantly best friends and even made a covenant to prove it, which in Bible times was a very serious thing!

And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt. 1 Samuel 18:3-4

I find this part so interesting. The prince--the one who should be the future king--removes his princely garments and weapons and hands them to the one who will one day take the throne. Wow.

Jonathan is very unlike his father. He makes a covenant with David. He keeps it. Even when he realizes that David will be the next king instead of him. He doesn’t become jealous of David like Saul does, but rather supports David as the future King of Israel. Jonathan is a true friend and gives us an example to follow in our own friendships.

Jonathan stood up for David when the king tried to kill David. He fought David’s case against King Saul, trying to convince the king to let David be. King Saul threw his javelin at Jonathan. (1 Samuel 20:33) Jonathan believed David was worth fighting for. Worth dying for. (Don’t worry, Saul has bad aim and Jonathan was fine.)

We can learn so much about friendship from Jonathan, but one thing that stands out to me is his bravery.

Think of your friend. Maybe your best friend. I have three and I’m very protective of them. If someone hurts me, I’m like, “I’m tough. I can handle it.” But someone does my friend wrong and I’m like, “Excuse you! What are you doing to my beautiful cinnamon roll?!”

Honestly, feeling like that about your friend is a good thing. (To a point. Starting fights is no bueno.) It means that you care for your friend enough to stand up for them.

Just like Jonathan’s bestie David was attacked, your friend will be attacked too at some point. Probably not with a javelin, but very likely with words. Mean words, things that aren’t true, things that ARE true but should be left alone, things from the past, untrue lies. Sometimes these are lies that others are spreading, but sometimes (probably most times) these are thoughts inside your friend’s head.

Today I read a quote by Ney Bailey that says, “The only power that Satan has is in his lies and getting us to believe them.”

Wow. That hit me hard. Because I’ve been there. I’ve believed the lies about myself. “You’re worthless.” “God can’t use you because of your past.” “Nobody loves you.” “No one will ever love you.”

Do you know what helped me overcome those lies? My friends.

When I felt unloved, Rachel told me that I was surrounded by love.

When I felt insignificant, Julianne told me that I am more than enough.

When I felt worthless, Sis. Pam told me my worth was in Christ, not in myself.

When I felt like God couldn’t use me because of my past, Sarah told me that God was going to take me on an adventure beyond my wildest dreams.

I believed the things that my friends told me and found myself no longer believing the lies. My friends reminded me of truth.

The Bible says that truth will set us free. (John 8:32)

Truth has allowed me to overcome worthlessness. It’s taught me how to trust again. It’s shown me that I have purpose.

Speak truth over your friends. Speak truth over yourself. Watch how the lives around you change as you speak TRUTH and fight those nasty lies. You and your friends will no longer be susceptible to the devil’s only “power”.

Fight lies with truth. This is how we will overcome.

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It's 2019! How crazy is that? Like, wasn't it 2000 just a few years ago? No? Almost two decades now? Time flies.

Unfortunately my 2019 has been eventful already and not in a good way. I've been to the ER twice, had my first and second (and hopefully last) IVs, been diagnosed with strep throat, had an allergic reaction to the medication that made my face swell (I've refused to look in a mirror for three days), got more medication and a shot in the butt, and now I hope I'm FINALLY on the mend. Oh, this is also taking place after having a cold for three weeks.

Needless to say, I'm ready to be better so I can really get my 2019 started! I've spent the last 2.5 weeks on the couch trying to let my body heal, but I guess it was enjoying streaming Netflix a lot and decided to make me sick a few more days. So in the meantime, our house is a mess and we still have stuff in suitcases from our trip to Singapore/Malaysia. I keep having to remind myself that life goes on, even with a dirty house and the Christmas decor still out, and I'll get everything back in order "one day".

Casey has been the greatest blessing during these last few weeks, attending to my every need, holding my hand in the ER as I freaked out about the needles and IVs, making me food so I don't have to get up, attempting to handle the laundry (ya'll know that's a JOB), staying up with me all night as I fight fevers and sleeplessness, taking care of (and spoiling) Oxford. The list goes on and on.

The last few weeks haven't been fun, but it has forced me to work on focusing on my blessings instead of my temporary problems. That's a tough one for me to do sometimes. Most people don't believe it because I try to be positive, but I'm naturally pretty melancholy, a glass-half-empty type of person. This can be mentally unhealthy, so focusing on the good helps me turn my mindset around! Over the last few years I've learned that I am the one who chooses my attitude, and gratitude helps me get my attitude in check!

So here are some things I'm thankful for.

• That I have a husband who treats me like a queen, even when I'm a royal pain in the butt.
• That I didn't get strep (or have an allergic reaction) while in Asia. 
• That I get to enjoy our beautiful home and our lovely green velvet vintage couch and comfy papasan all day every day.
• That, even though it's not Christmas anymore, I still get to enjoy our Christmas decor (which is great since we were gone for two weeks of December).
• That I have a lot of friends all over the world who have been covering me in prayer the last few weeks.

See? So much to be thankful for! And today, the sun is streaming through the windows, which puts an extra smile on my (still swollen) face.

When I sat down to write this post I had no idea where I was going, but as words poured out of my brain, I'm realizing that a good word for this year for me would be gratitude or thankfulness. To be intentional about finding the good every single day, even on the bad days and the sick days and the rainy days. There is always good to be found.

Sometimes the good is obvious, like on a day when you're hanging out with your friends in Singapore enjoying milk tea at Selfie Coffee, bubble tea at Gong Cha, Kaya Toast and a Milo Dinosaur at Toast Box (I promise we do things besides eat, but food is one of my favorite things), walking around Chinatown searching for souvenirs, participating in Vacation Bible School with a talented team of young adults and teenagers who've become your second family over the years. Ah yes, those days are good.

Sometimes the good is less noticeable, but it's there. The happy squirrel you spot playing outside the window while you wash dishes. Having a cup of tea in your favorite tea cup. Cuddling with your puppy. Your cute reusable grocery bag. Sunshine streaming through the window. A walk downtown to your favorite coffee shop. All small, simple things, but these small things have great power to remind me of beauty, love, and hope.

So now that this post has gone down a road I never expected it to go down (I guess that's what happens when I don't have a plan), let's end it with some scriptures about thankfulness!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

Here's to having an attitude of gratitude in 2019!

Shameless Persistence

*I'm taking a break this week from the study of 1 Samuel, but I'll be back soon with more David!*

I’m involved in an amazing program called the Student Action Leadership Team (SALT) and it is truly my heartbeat. Over the years I’ve taken on more and more responsibility, and now I’m one of the coordinators. Part of my job is handling online registration. Which is pretty easy to manage. IF people actually fill out the application.

See, what happens is that people forget to fill it out. (I can’t blame them. I’m a total procrastinator, too.) Then I have to contact the veterans, the people who SHOULD know what they’re doing because they’ve been doing SALT for YEARS, and tell them that they MUST fill out the form. (Trying not to rant here, ha!) I’ve finally learned that telling them once usually doesn’t work. I have to bug them repeatedly, text them every week, nag them at the planning meetings, for them to fill out the form.

I hate doing it. I hate nagging. I hate having to remind them. I’m not a confrontational type of person, so I just don’t like it. But I’ve learned that there are times when being persistent is necessary.

One of those times is prayer.

Sometimes I struggle with praying for the same thing over and over again. Like, God already heard me. Surely He’s getting annoyed that I keep talking to Him about the same thing over and over again. But that isn’t true.

In Luke 11:5-8, Jesus tells a parable that explains how prayer should work: be persistent until your prayer is answered.

Jesus said to them, “If one of you has a friend and goes to him in the night and says, ‘Friend, give me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine is on a trip and has stopped at my house. I have no food to give him.’ The man inside the house will say, ‘Do not trouble me. The door is shut. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you bread.’ I say to you, he may not get up and give him bread because he is a friend. Yet, if he keeps on asking, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Luke 11:5-8

In my Bible next to this parable I wrote: shameless persistence.

See, the man in the house doesn’t get up because he’s friends with you. He gets up because you bug him enough that he gives in. Shameless persistence.

The verses after explain that as we persist in prayer, we should progress in intensity.

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Luke 11:9-10

Ask: Verbalize your requests to God
Seek: Continue approaching God, as if you’re looking for something you’ve lost.
Knock: Persist until the door is open. Keep praying. Pray more intensely and aggressively.

Wow. This parable totally debunks the myth that we only need to pray once for something! Yes, God knows the need, but He wants us to continue approaching Him for it. He WANTS to give us things, but He also wants us to ASK him for it.

So I’m doing it. I have things I’ve been praying for years and I haven’t seen any results, so I kind of backed off on those prayers. Not anymore. I’m bringing them before God again, and I’m not feeling guilty that I keep praying the same thing again and again. I want to be shamelessly persistent, even if it doesn’t feel like it’s doing any good, so I can see those prayers answered!

The Father's Correction

*I'm currently doing a study of David and want to share with you what I learn along the way! Today we're in 1 Samuel 18. See the first post here!*

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

1 Samuel 18: 6-9

Whew, I’d hate to be David right now. He doesn’t know what’s about to happen, but it is NOT a pretty sight. David has gained the favor of the people, but now? The King of Israel has his eye on him. King Saul is just looking for a reason to strike.

How did King Saul get here? He was once an humble guy. How did he go from humble to green with envy, wanting to kill someone?

The answer comes from 1 Samuel 16:14, right after David is anointed to be king and the Spirit comes upon him. “But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.”

Jealousy. We’ve all faced it. Especially in this day and age. Instagram and Facebook can certainly spark it!

I’ve faced jealousy through my life. Even to this day! Even yesterday to be specific! But I know I’m not supposed to be jealous, so what do I do?

When I feel jealous, I then feel the Spirit correct me. Remind me that I shouldn’t be jealous, but happy for that person. It doesn’t completely take my jealousy away, but I have a tool to help me overcome it. I just have to allow the Lord to help me.

For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.
Proverbs 3:12

The Lord was no longer with King Saul. It’s not that God didn’t love Saul anymore, but Saul was tuned out. He wasn’t connected with God and therefore couldn’t/wouldn’t listen to His correction.

When we aren’t connected with God and don’t allow him to correct our wrongdoings through His marvelous love and grace, we find ourselves in a downward spiral that we can’t get out of without His help.

Jealousy is human nature. If I were the king and all my people were singing songs about how this random kid David was better than me, I’d be jealous too! But the way we fight our human nature—the flesh—is with the Spirit. 

Saul could have conquered his jealousy if he had allowed the Lord to correct him. Instead, his jealousy grew and grew. Just TWO verses after “Saul eyed David,” he tries to kill David!! Twice! And then he tries to kill David more times! The green monster grew until he could no longer control it.

The Bible says that “whoever hates correction is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1) I definitely feel like stupid is an appropriate word to describe King Saul.

When you fall and fail, allow God to help you. He’s not here to chastise you. He wants to help you up and correct you like a loving father. He has a plan for you and wants to help you accomplish it. So let him. Don’t be like Saul. Don’t be stupid.

The View From Down Here

*I'm currently doing a study of David and want to share with you what I learn along the way! Today we're in 1 Samuel 17. Again. See the first post here!*

David, who was talking to the men standing around him, asked... “Who does he think he is, anyway, this uncircumcised Philistine, taunting the armies of God-Alive?”
1 Samuel 17:26 MSG

Today, let’s back up a little bit. Let’s go back to before the fight.

David isn’t even supposed to be there. I mean, obviously God sends him there to kill Goliath, but David wasn’t already at the battleground. David is not a part of the army. He’s a shepherd who also works part time as the palace musician and Saul’s armor bearer (1 Samuel 17:15). The reason he’s even at the battleground is because his dad sent him to take some food to his brothers who were in the army.

David was just being obedient and going on an errand. He had no idea that errand would change his life.

After David gets there, Goliath comes out tormenting the Israelites (God’s people, the side David is on) and calling for someone to come fight him. Back in these days, sometimes armies would put forth two of their best warriors and let them fight each other. Whoever won got to claim victory for their side. This prevented major bloodshed and loss of life.

So Goliath is out there yelling “FIGHT ME!” and he’s been doing this for FORTY DAYS. And no one has stepped up to fight him yet. Because, oh yeah, he’s NINE FOOT NINE and his armor alone weighs 125 POUNDS. When he comes out, the Israelites are so scared they run away! (1 Samuel 17:24)

But not David. Because David has a secret weapon. It’s not his slingshot. He doesn’t have any superhero powers like invisibility or super strength. The kid doesn’t even have any armor. But what he DOES have is God on his side.

When David sees Goliath, he asks, “Who does he think he is, anyway, this uncircumcised Philistine, taunting the armies of God-Alive?” (1 Samuel 17:26)

While everyone else saw a giant, David saw a mortal man defying his God. And he knew that, with God on his side, Goliath wasn’t a threat.

If David had looked at the situation from a human point of view, it would have been intimidating. David was shorter than Goliath. He had to look UP to Goliath. When a problem seems bigger than us… that’s scary. But David looked at the situation from God’s point of view, and from God’s view, Goliath was just like anyone else. He wasn’t intimidating. Because nothing and no one can intimidate God.

When faced with a situation that seems impossible, we need to be like David instead of the Israelites. The Israelites were afraid of the giant, but David found boldness in the Lord to fight. When we view impossible situations from God’s point of view, our giant doesn’t seem so big anymore.

And that’s when we find the courage to say, “I’ll go fight!”

Height Doesn't Matter

*I'm currently doing a study of David and want to share with you what I learn along the way! Today we're in 1 Samuel 17*

David and Goliath. One is a giant. One… not so much.

Thing is, we don’t really know how tall David was. I was reading 1 Samuel 17 and wondered how much taller Goliath was than David. Goliath is said to be nine foot nine. When David is described, the Bible doesn’t bother to mention his height. I guess it wasn’t important enough to note.

David’s height didn’t matter anyway. He had God on his side.

It didn’t matter how tall he was. It didn’t matter how young he was. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t equipped with armor or a sword or a shield. God was enough.

By human standards, David wasn’t qualified to go out and face Goliath. The boy wasn’t even in the army! He was a shepherd and a musician. An animal-loving harpist does NOT seem like the best guy for the job. And actually… he wasn’t the best guy for the job. There’s someone already there on the battlefield who is very skilled, has tons of experience, and… is tall. That someone is King Saul.

When we meet King Saul in 1 Samuel he’s described as “a head taller than anyone else” (1 Samuel 9:2). In fact, the Bible mentions his height a few times. I guess Saul’s height WAS important enough to note.

So if Saul is the tallest one there, it would seem as though he would be the most capable man for the job, right? But Saul was not called to kill Goliath. God had chosen David.

When God calls us to do something for Him, He gives us what we need—not what we THINK we need. David didn’t need a sword or a shield or a few more feet of height to conquer Goliath. He used what he already had—a slingshot. He already had what he needed.

You may feel like the least capable person for the job. You might be looking at Saul and thinking, “He’s way more capable! He has experience! He has a sword! He’s tall!” Stop comparing yourself to others’ talents, abilities, and experience. If God has called you, then you can rest assured that He has already given you what you need.

You may feel unequipped for what God has called you to do. You might be looking at your slingshot and wishing you had a sword. Just like David’s height, what you don’t have isn’t worth noting. With the Lord on your side, you have everything you need. So go fight your giant.

You Aren't What You Look Like

*I'm currently doing a study of David and want to share with you what I learn along the way! Today we're in 1 Samuel 16. Again*

Last time I touched a little bit on David being anointed as the future king of Israel. Instead of moving forward, let’s hang out here a little longer.

This part of the story is one we cover a lot in kids ministry. We have a skit that we’ve done all around the world (literally—we did it in Singapore and probably Malaysia. I can’t remember) that shows the importance of this part right here.

I mean, obviously it’s important. It’s an extremely important part of Israel’s history—King David being anointed. But it doesn’t go quite how one would expect it to go.

As I mentioned last week, the prophet Samuel had to anoint David in secret so the bad King Saul wouldn’t be all, “I’m killing you for treason!” So when God told Samuel that he needed to go to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons, Samuel told King Saul that he was going to make a sacrifice in Bethlehem. (Which he did, so he wasn’t lying.)

Samuel told Jesse to bring out his sons. He had bunches. Seven or eight of them. (Some of the wording in the Bible is confusing. I personally understand it to be eight sons, but some people say seven. Anyhoo, that’s just a side note and beside the point.)

So Jesse brings out his boys and Samuel looks at the first one, Eliab, and says (and I’m paraphrasing), “I know this has to be the guy God picked!”

But God says, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

Then this happens six more times. Samuel is all, “It’s gotta be this guy!” “Look how handsome this one is!” “Man, this one is strong.” “This guy won the superbowl three years in a row!” “This one is supahhh rich!” Or, ya know, something along those lines anyway. Each son that was put before Samuel LOOKED kingly but God was like, “Nuh uh.”

Finally, it comes down to the point where all the sons have gone before Samuel the prophet and there aren’t any left. So Samuel asks Jesse, “Um, is this all of them? You got any more kids?” And Jesse’s like, “Well… there’s the youngest. He keeps the sheep. But, I mean... he's just the baby.” (1 Samuel 16:11)

And Samuel says, “Go get him."

Okay, let’s pause. You read that right. David wasn’t even there. He wasn't invited to the party. He was still out with the sheep. His family didn’t even bother to go get him for the family meeting. He was literally an outcast in his own family.

Tradition says that David was an illegitimate child. I’m not going into details—you can look into that on your own. But it would sure make a lot of sense, huh? Let’s ban the illegitimate kid to working with the sheep. Keep him out of the way.

But he’s the one God picked.

Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.” (1 Samuel 16:12)

Whoa, wait, what? You're picking the guy who is all stinky because he's been with the sheep all day? You're picking the illegitimate kid? It doesn't make sense!!

It all goes back to that earlier verse.

The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

God isn’t looking at your outward appearance, or how many degrees you have, or how much money is in your bank account, or how many Instagram followers you have. He looks inside. He looks at your heart. He looks at your character. He sees your potential (because He placed it inside of you). And the cool thing? He can see those good things even through the bad inside of you. In the future, David will commit adultery, yet he’s still called “a man after God’s own heart.” Thankfully, our sin doesn’t keep God away. He sees it and sees through it. He’s looking for a heart that desires him, even when that heart messes up and falls into sin.

David was the outcast. Who else knows what that feels like? (Hand lifted high. Actually I’m raising both hands.) I think everyone has felt like an outcast at some point.

God uses outcasts.

God doesn’t view us like the rest of the world does, but rather as something far greater. David will later be called a king, a warrior, a giant-killer. God saw that potential in him while he was still an outcast to the rest of the world. And God sees that potential in you, too.

What the world thinks of you doesn’t matter. God doesn’t look at you like the world does. He sees you as something far greater. He sees the giant-killer in you when everyone else just sees the keeper of the sheep.

So don’t let the world get you down. Because you aren’t what you look like.

The Waiting Game

*I'm currently doing a study of David and want to share with you what I learn along the way! Today we're in 1 Samuel 16.*

I really hate the DMV. And the social security office. Because it doesn’t matter when I go in, I’m going to have to wait. I usually take a book with me, which makes the wait more bearable, but it still stinks and I just feel like my life is slowing wasting away. Am I being a bit dramatic?

No matter what, waiting sucks. Waiting on your food (I get hangry), waiting for your Amazon package (whatever happened to that drone delivery idea?), waiting at the red light (did you know you’ll spend about 6 months of your life waiting at red lights? whyyyyyy?).

As humans, we’re programmed to be impatient (at least I think most of us are) and it especially doesn’t help in this day in age. We are the “microwave” generation. We like things to be done NOW. But God isn’t a NOW God. He’s an ON TIME God. And unfortunately for us, NOW is usually not the same as ON TIME.

Let’s look at David for an example. (David’s my favorite.)

Before David became king, Israel was ruled by King Saul. Now King Saul had started off a good ruler—God had anointed him and equipped him with the ability to be a good king and a good military leader. But Saul didn’t put God first and ultimately ended up disobeying God, and God was obviously not okay with that.

It was then time to prep the future king of Israel—David! God sent Samuel the prophet to anoint David. Since King Saul was still reigning, it had to be done in secret. Only David and his family knew. Once David was anointed as the future king, God’s spirit left King Saul and instead rested upon David.

You’d think by the next chapter David would be king, right? But NO! In fact, he was still a ways away from being king. BUT in the very same chapter, God set up an opportunity for David to start king lessons. (Kind of like those princess lessons in The Princess Diaries movies, except the king didn’t know he was teaching lessons to the future king. So I guess it’s not really like the Princess Diaries.) David was invited to King Saul’s court to become his own personal musician. King Saul loved him so much that he made David his armor bearer! So David was able to gain firsthand information about leading a nation since he was right next to Saul, who, though he no longer had God’s spirit upon him, still had those awesome leadership abilities and was still leading Israel in victories over their enemies.

David still has a lot of things to go through before he will become king. He has a lot to learn. He has situations to go through that will force him to rely on God. He will find himself in leadership positions that will allow him to grow and become the leader that Israel needs.

David has a promise from God but he still has to wait.

God has a plan and a promise for everyone. For you. Perhaps He’s given you a direct and clear promise and you’re wondering when it’s going to come. I have some of those. I literally have no clue how or when He will do it. But I know that it will come in the right time. In the meantime, I’m going to grow where I’m planted and allow the Lord to mold me into the person I need to be for his plan to take shape.

I encourage you to do the same thing. It’s easy to get weary in waiting, but use it as an opportunity to bloom where you are and let God grow you and show you some things. He may need to work on you still. He may have some things He needs to teach you first. Allow God to use this time to shape you into the person He needs you to be to experience the fullness of His promise.